Question Period Note: Mushkegowuk Council State of Emergency

• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is committed to addressing the urgent health issues in remote and isolated communities.

• ISC is working with partners to arrange for additional health care professionals to travel to communities within the Mushkegowuk Council area.

• A meeting will take place to discuss an action plan addressing the shortage of health human resources

• ISC is taking action to hire and train nurses, improve access to mental health supports and provide necessary pharmaceuticals

Mushkegowuk Council has declared a State of Emergency regarding health care services on the James Bay Coast, including the shortage of available health care professionals and infrastructure concerns. In 2007, Mushkegowuk Council signed the Weeneebayko Area Health Integration Framework Agreement with Canada and Ontario with the understanding of increased and improved health care services for the region. However, Mushkegowuk Council has raised concerns that their communities’ needs have not been met, and continue to increase.

In the State of Emergency declaration, Mushkegowuk Council is seeking the full support of ISC and the Ministry of Health to allocate the necessary resources for infrastructure development which will include supporting elements for a fully operational Primary Care model. Mushkegowuk Council has also requested immediate trilateral meetings to develop required mechanisms to respond to the crisis.

The Tribal Council is seeking to establish a treaty based political and technical table to resolve immediate, short, and long-term health care issues including the strengthening of community and regional health care systems. Mushkegowuk Council has stated they will be exploring the option of filing a Human Rights Complaint.

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch- Ontario region has been meeting with Mushekogowuk Council’s Grand Chief to discuss an action plan to address the shortage of health human resources, including accelerated training for agency nurses to meet the remote work requirements, as well as fast track the assessment of nurses to identify training needs.

If pressed on services to be provided in Mushkegowuk Council’s communities
• ISC remains committed to working collaboratively with Mushkegowuk Council to better meet the health and wellness needs of the communities.

• ISC has held regular meetings with Mushkegowuk Council to address immediate health care needs and establish an action plan moving forward.

• ISC has committed to a review to determine how this incident occurred and how our processes and procedures can be improved to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.